Gender Role

This week we discussed the aspect of gender. As children we seem to naturally have some tendencies that seem to fit within our gender. This of course is just a generalization and it is important to treat children as individuals. One of the things I found very interesting was how much harder we are on young boys, then girls. If a girl plays with a car or a ball, we think it is cute, but if a boy plays with a doll many people get concerned. I just found this fact really interesting, because I had not really thought about it before, but realized it was true. As I thought about this I found myself thinking to my own childhood. As I look back I recognize that both of my parents allowed us to have a balanced life. My brother was the oldest and the only boy, so sometimes if he did want to play with us, he had to play barbies. Granted they would often go bungee jumping, and sky diving, and have crazy accidents, but I never thought it was odd that he was playing with us, until later when I would talk to kids at school. My three sisters and I would also play sword fights, and wrestling, and power rangers with my brother. We had fun with each other doing a variety of activities, but none of us ever felt like our gender identity was in question, and I know that this is largely due to my parents. They still taught me the importance of my role as a woman, and I have never felt degraded or beneath for being one.